How to Play PickleBall

PickleBall is becoming the fastest growing sport in the USA, in part because it has a very short learning curve.​Watch this awesome intro video on how to play PickleBall.

PICKLEBALL SERVEThe start of a game begins with a serve. The player standing in the right service court is always the first server, whether at the the beginning of a game or on a side-out.

Before serving the server calls out the score.

The serve must be hit underhanded from behind the baseline cross court into the opposing team’s service court. The serve must clear the net and not land inside the non-volley zone (or in most circles called the kitchen.) Sometimes the ball will nick the net but still land in the correct serving court. This is called a let and the server must redo his serve until he either serves correctly, hits the ball into the net, or hits the ball out of bounds.

If the ball hits the net or lands in the kitchen, it is a fault.

SERVE BOUNCEThe player returning the serve must let the ball bounce before returning it to the opposing team’s side.

RETURN SERVE BOUNCEAn important rule in PickleBall is the Return Bounce rule. The Return Bounce rule says the serving team must let the Return Serve Bounce

KITCHEN/NON-VOLLEY ZONEA unique but important aspect of PickleBall is the non-volley zone, also known as the Kitchen.

Players may not hit the ball while standing in the kitchen unless the ball has already bounced on their side.

Players may not step into the kitchen to volley the PickleBall.

Players may not enter the kitchen on a volley even if their momentum carries them into the zone.

FAULTSIn PickleBall mistakes are called faults.

Double-Bounce Rule: Hitting a volley before the ball has bounced at least once on a side at the beginning of a rally.

The ball can bounce one time on a side before being hit. If the ball bounces more than once, it is a fault.

Hitting the ball out of bounds is a fault. Where the center of the ball touches the ground determines whether a ball is in or out on a line.

If the ball is hit into the net, it is a fault.

Any plays involving stepping into the kitchen to hit a volley is a fault.